...the level of craft, comedy chops and clowning ability [Nicoll] demonstrated in putting this show together was tremendous. Icarus was fresh, earnest, and left smiles pasted on my face. Making it as a new theater company is a tall order, but if the standing ovations and sold-out performances of this weekend are any indication, Klouns has staying power. And Utah is better for it.

Director Cleveland McKay Nicoll helps provide some of that joy and love. Nicoll provides great use of the stage and implementation of unique ideas. When all of the characters are in one scene, it never feels crowded due to the clever blocking and direction. Nicoll has the actors use the stairs, the bar at the end of the set, and the hallway to the kitchen—every space has a time to shine and never feels dull.
Nicoll also creates humor in the unique scene changes. While pieces are moving in and out and new props are being set, the actors create a second narrative with little side stories that seem to be of their own creation. These mini-scenes are full of humor and help deepen the character relationships. To Nicoll, well done.

Director Cleveland McKay Nicoll made the daring choice of telling the story of Tartuffe without dialogue, with the minor exception of a one-sentence announcement explaining the events of the upcoming scene. To bring his concept to fruition, Nicoll had his actors perform the entire story with classical clowning techniques. While effective, what surprised me was the sweet innocence that the clowns injected into the play. Nicoll’s clowns are the childlike clowns of yesteryear—not modern creepy clowns that induce coulrophobia. Nicoll was innovative in creating silly scenes and finding new ways of moving the action forward without retreading jokes or actions.

The one-hour Tartuffe is so tightly packed with amazing clown physicality that it goes by as though it is 15 minutes of pure delight. Having read the synopsis of Tartuffe only after watching the show, I was thrilled to know that with no dialogue I left knowing most of the story. My hat’s off to the actors and direction that persuasively teaches the audience the plot filled with emotion. Things that I loved about this show are the use of the audience, even onstage; the use of the music to help up understand the mood and plot; and the use of the costumes and make-up to tell the story of the characters before they even started to perform. The best part by far is the physicality used by the actors as clowns. It is superb. The art of Clowning is not easy and can quickly bore an audience with the same actions/expressions over and over again. Not in the case of this presentation. Each character is his/her own as expressed in the individual movement used specifically for them. The movement used to heighten the comedy is also amazing and in one scene the movement of a sleeping person from chairs to the floor and back is hilarious and well played.

Directed by McKay Nicoll, this production is a very entertaining experience.

Director Cleveland McKay Nicoll brings the whole thing together for such a good time that the audience is laughing throughout the whole performance. I found myself excited by the setting before the play even started.